Extrication back splint

ABSTRACT

A back splint of malleable material so that it can be formed at the scene of an accident and secured to the portion of the victim or person without moving the injured portion or the person or victim so as to immobilize the injured part of the person or immobilize the victim or person in the position in which the injury occurs to aid in inhibiting further damage or injury to the vertebral column or associated portions thereof upon extrication and transportation of the victim. The splint comprises longitudinally extending, spaced malleable members preferably curved at one end for fitting on the victim to immobilize the head, neck, and vertebral column of an injured person to retain the person in such immobilized position to inhibit further injury upon extrication and transportation. The construction of the splint is such that it does not significantly interfere with radiological surveys.

[72] Inventors Albert Goodell:

William L. Greene, both of PD. Box 5406.

Primary Examlner- Richard A. Gaudet Assistant Examiner-J Yasko Beaumont,Tex. 77706 Attorneys-Jack Wv Hayden and Richard E Bee [2|] Appl. No822,538 [22] Filed May 7, 1969 [45] Patented Nov. 16, 1971 ABSTRACT: Aback splint of malleable material so that it can [54] ExTluCA-"ON BACKSPUNT be formed at the scene of an accident and secured to the pornon ofthe victim or person without moving the in ured porl Claim.6DrawlngFigs.

tton or the person or victim so as to immobilize the in ured [52] U.S.Cl128/89, pan f the person or immobmze the u person in the 128/78 positionin which the in ury occurs to aid in inhibiting further [5|] lnt.Cl A6"5/04 damage or injury to [he vermin-3| Comm" associated Search 28/89137-tions thereof upon extrication and transportation of the vic- 85. 3. ttim. The splint comprises longitudinally extending, spaced malleablemembers preferably curved at one end for fitting on [56] ReferencesCited the victim to immobilize the head, neck. and vertebral columnUNITED STATE PAT of an in ured person to retain the person in suchimmobilized 1,301,276 4/l9l9 Kroetz l28/78 position to inhibit furtherinjury upon extrication and trans- 2.506,464 5/1950 Millheisler...l28/89 portation The construction of the splint is such that it does333L367 7/1967 Hastings I28/78 not significantly interfere withradiological surveys z V f 4 5 8 .35 l I I l 35 29 a l l f 2 1 30 l L l7 PATENTEnunv 16 I97! SHEU 1 0F 2 A/berf Gooc/e/l W/7//'am Z GreeneINVENTORJ' Magda mane! who & MaMewL flTTORNE YS PATENTEDNDV 15 Ian 3,20,21 1

sum 2 0F 2 A/er f 60004? Wf/fiam L. Greene INVENTORJ a Jan Hm! Willow 6Mammal! 14 TTOR NE YS EXTRICATION BACK SPLINT CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATEDAPPLICATION The present invention may be used in conjunction with thecopending application of William L. Greene for Safety Litter" filed Oct.29, 1969 and bearing Ser. No. 77 l ,477.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This inventionrelates to a splint which may be applied to the injured portion of aninjured person to immobilize the injured portion of the injured personprior to moving the injured person. The splint can be applied to theextremities, such as the arms or legs of an injured person; however, itis primarily useful for immobilizing the head, neck, and vertebralcolumn of an injured person, to maintain the victim in the exactposition in which found, and thereby inhibit further damage to theperson which might otherwise be occasioned by movement prior toimmobilization.

2. Description of the Prior Art Applicants are unfamiliar with anyspecific prior art, except that general practice at the present time isto use standard ambulance and rescue vehicle equipment. This employs abackboard which usually necessitates moving the position of thevertebral column of the victim to a position that generally approximatesthe plane of the backboard and then attaching the head and upper torsoto the board prior to extrication from a vehicle, machinery, or otherlocation and subsequent transportation for treatment or diagnosis.

Thus, with present practice in some instances, the victim or injuredperson is first moved, requiring mobilizing, or moving, the entire orpart of the vertebral column prior to attaching the backboard. Invarious situations such as by way of example only, aircraft crashes,vehicle accidents, and injuries where a person may fall into machineryor equipment, it can be appreciated that with the prior art device itmay be necessary to move the victim or remove the victim even before thebackboard of the prior art can be positioned as above described.

Where an injury is present in the vertebral column of the victim, itfurther can be appreciated that mobilizing or moving the victim beforeor in the process of attaching the backboard as presently employed maycause further complications of the injury and may even damage the spinalcord to cause partial or total paralyzation of the victim.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention overcomes thedisadvantages of devices heretofore used in that it provides a splintwhich may be applied to an injured person in whatever position theinjured person may be found before moving the victim. The splint of thepresent invention is of malleable material and is formed to fit andimmobilize the head and spinal column of a victim or injured personprior to the time the injured person is extricated, by way of exampleonly, from an aircraft crash, vehicle accident, or situation where theinjured person has fallen into machinery or equipment.

More particularly, the present invention provides a splint which notonly immobilizes the head, neck, and vertebral column of an injuredperson in the position in which found when injured, and prior tomovement of the injured person, but the splint is constructed andarranged so that it may remain in position after the victim has beenremoved to a hospital or other location for radiological surveys withoutsubstantially interfering therewith to determine the extent and natureof the injury, if any, to the head or any portion of the spinal column.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a splint which isconstructed so as to fit or cradle the back and part of the top of aninjured person's head and extend downwardly along the spinal column ofthe injured person, the splint being constructed to receive suitablestrap means to aid in retaining the head of the injured person alongwith the neck and the vertebral column immobilized during and after thesplint and strap means have been positioned.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a splint which maybe formed so as to be applied to an injured person in the position inwhich the victim is found even though the head or chin of an injuredperson may be damaged and even though the head may be turned or twistedrelative to the vertebral column of the injured person.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a splint whichimmobilizes the head, neck, and vertebral column of an injured personeven though the head may be twisted or rotated relative to the vertebralcolumn, such splint being configured to employ strap means for securingthe head of the injured person as well as the torso to the splint toretain the head and vertebral column immobilized during extrication andtransportation.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide splint whichis partially preformed and can be applied to an injured person so as tolock the head, neck, and vertebral column of the injured person in theposition in which they are found when injured prior to extricationand/or movement of the injured person.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a back elevational viewillustrating the preferred form of the splint of the present inventionapplied to an injured person in a vehicle or other situation where thevictim is in seated position;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the preferred form of the device showing strapmeans in dotted line;

FIG. 3 is a front view showing an injured person in a seated positionslumped forward with the head and neck twisted and at an angle relativeto the balance of the vertebral column and with the splint of thepresent invention applied to retain the victim in the position whenfound prior to extrication and/or movement;

FIG. 4 is a left side view of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the upper end of splint with the headand chin strap means applied thereto;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the splint of the presentinvention used in conjunction with the body splint or stretcherdisclosed and claimed in the copending application of William L. Greenehereinabove referred to.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Attention is first directed toFIG. 2 of the invention where the splint of the present invention isreferred to by the letter 5. Attention is next directed to FIGS. 1 and 2which illustrate the present invention as including a pair oflongitudinally extending members 4 and 5 which are curved upwardly attheir ends 6 relative to their respective longitudinal axis asillustrated in FIG. 2. Preferably, the curved end portion 6 of themembers 4 and 5 is in the same plane as the longitudinal axis of themembers to aid in forming a cradle for receiving the head of the victimwhen the splint is applied to the head of the victim as will bedescribed hereinafter. The members 4 and S are preferably connectedtogether at their ends by the cross members 7 as shown in FIG. I of thedrawings and they are spaced so that after the splint S is applied tothe portion of the body of the injured person as shown in FIGS. 1, 3,and 4, radiological surveys as necessary may be taken withoutsubstantial interference. The spaced relationship of the longitudinallyextending members 4 and S is maintained by suitable brace means 8extending therebetween which is positioned and secured at spacedintervals longitudinally of the splint S, and the brace 9 adjacent thecurved end portion 6 of each of the members is concave relative to thelongitudinal axis of the members 4 and 5 to aid in forming a dishedreceptacle arrangement to firmly position or lock the head of theinjured person relative to the neck and vertebral column when the splintS is applied.

In FIGS. I, 3, 4, and 5, suitable strap means referred to generally bythe letter C are used for securing the splint S to the injured portionof the injured person. In FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, it will be noted that thesplint S is secured to the victim so as to immobilize the head, neck,and vertebral column; however, it can be appreciated that the splint canbe used for the extremities of an injured person such as the legs orarms. Preferably, the splint S may be formed of rods or tubing ofapproximately one-quarter inch in diameter so that they can be readilyformed to fit the injured portion of the victim prior to extricationand/or movement.

Where the injured person V is initially found in a seated position asshown in dotted line in FIG. 1, the splint S will be positioned as shownto aid or inhibit further damage to the vertebral column, head, and neckprior to extrication or movement.

The splint S can be inserted either from the side of the victim orpushed down vertically, whichever causes no movement of the victim. Whenpositioned, the curved portion 6 rests against the back and over therear of the head of the victim so that the head is cradled in the splintS by the rods 4 and 5 and curved brace 9. Specifically, the splint Swill immobilize the head, neck, and vertebral column of the injuredperson and will retain the relationship of the injured portions toinhibit further damage as the splint is locked to the injured portionand during extrication and transportation of the injured person afterthe splint S is applied. In FIG. 1, the splint S ofthe present inventionis shown as applied, for example, where the victim is in a vehicleaccident and is in the vehicle with the head either straight or slumpedforward. In such situation, the splint S is first positioned adjacentthe spine and over the back of the head. lf necessary, the splint S maybe bent to fit it to the position of the head and spine of the victimwithout moving the victim. Thereafter, the straps C can be securedaround the torso and head to immobilize the victim. The straps C areprovided with a surface L (HO. 3) sold under the trademark Velcro, andthe ends can be wrapped and secured together around the rods 4 and 5 andthen around the torso. ln some situations the strap around the upperportion of the torso may be wrapped over the victims arms instead ofunder the arms as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. Thereafter, the other ends ofthe straps C may be engaged together by means of the Velcro on each ofthe straps.

The head strap H includes a chin cup 16 which is connected by snaps 17to straps l8 and 19. The ends 22 of each of the straps 18 can be engagedaround the curved portion 6 of rods 4 and 5 and beneath the ears andaround the back of and on each side of the head 26 of the victim; theends of straps 19 are positioned over each cheek and over the top 27 ofthe head 26 ofthe victim V.

As more clearly seen in H0. 4, the pair of straps C is secured about thewaist of the victim V and adjacent one end of the splint S as shown inFIG. 1 to aid in immobilizing the lower lumbar and sacral portion of thespine of the victim V.

One end 29 of each of the straps 30 is wrapped around the rods 4 and 5respectively and then connected to its respective strap 30 by means ofthe Velcro. The other ends 31 of each of the straps 30 are lockedtogether after wrapping around the victim V as more clearly seen in FIG.3.

The next adjacent pair of straps 35 also aids in immobilizing thevictim. The straps 35 have one end 36 wrapped around the bars 4 and 5respectively and then connected or locked to its respective strap bymeans of the Velcro surface L. The straps 35 are extended either underor over the arms and then around the chest of the victim V and theirends 38 locked together by means of the Velcro L. Both of such stripsare provided with Velcro as previously described so that the end of thestrips may be locked together around the members 4 and In FIGS. 3 and 4,the splint S of the present invention is shown as applied to a person orvictim wherein the head 26 of the victim is slumped and rotated ortwisted relative to the vertebral column and as noted before it isdesired to maintain such position to aid in inhibiting severing of thespinal cord or further injury during movement of the victim which mightcause severe consequences to the victim. In such situations, the splintS can be positioned so that the upper curved portion receives the head26 and the curved brace 9 again received against the back of the head.If the back of the head is in jured, suitable compress means may beemployed to aid in preventing further damage to the head and to pad itagainst the splint S. Similarly, if the chin of the victim is injured, asuitable compress may be applied before the chin cup is applied. Ifnecessary, the splint may be bent to conform with the curvature of thespine and head. After the chin strap is positioned adjacent the patientwith the straps thereon at one end, the straps may be wrapped around thepatient, one at the waist and one around the chest as previouslydescribed. The head and chin strap H are firmly secured to lock the headin the position in which it is found at the time of the injury beforefurther movement of the patient. The straps 30 and 35 and their ends 29are secured to rods 4 and 5 as previously described, and the ends 3]then locked together. Also, the ends 36 of straps 35 are locked around 4and 5 and ends 38 are locked together as previously described. it isgenerally desirable to first bend or conform the splint S to theposition of the victim V and then secure the head and chin strap to thesplint S to avoid movement of the head or neck as the straps 30 and 35are applied.

The members 4 and 5 may be formed of tubular material or of suitablematerial so that they can be formed and will retain their formedposition in use. Forming may be accomplished by bending over the knee orover a portion of a vehicle or other object at the scene of an accident.

in PK]. 6, a body splint or litter is referred to by the numeral 50which is described and claimed in the copending application of WilliamL. Greene hereinabove referred to, and it will be noted that the splintS of the present invention has been first applied to the injured personor victim represented again by the letter P and shown in dotted line,and in addition to the straps 30 and 35 which are applied adjacent thetorso and the head and chin strap H, additional straps are applied tothe splint 50; such straps as shown at 51, 52, and 53 immobilize theentire body of the injured victim so that it can thereafter be moved toa treatment station for further treatment or radiological survey.

From the foregoing description, it can be seen that the splint S of thepresent invention can be applied to the injured person at the scene ofthe accident without first moving the person or moving one or moreportions of the body relative to another. Quite often, it may be thatparaplegic therapeutic situations arise because of movement of the headand neck relative to the remainder of the vertebral column which causesfurther damage to the vertebral column unwittingly. The presentinvention overcomes this in that it permits the splint S to be appliedto the body of the patient, and as shown, to the head, neck, and torsoso as to retain the relationship of the cervical spine to the thoracicand lumbar portions of the spine in the condition or position in whichthe injured person is found. After the splint S has been applied so asto immobilize the head, neck, and vertebral column in the manner asdescribed and shown, the patient can then be placed on the body splintor litter 30 and conveyed to a location as desired.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention areillustrative and explanatory thereof, and various changes in the size,shape, and materials as well as in the details of the illustratedconstruction may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

What is claimed is:

1. An extrication splint for retaining the head, neck, and vertebralcolumn of an injured person immobilized in the position in which theinjured person is found comprising:

a. a pair of longitudinally extending members each of which is curved atone end for engaging over the back and top of the head of the injuredperson;

b. said members being formed of malleable material whereby the splintmay be shaped to fit over the back and top of the head to retain thehead, neck, and vertebral column of an injured person immobilized in theposition in which the injured person in found;

brace means secured to and extending between said members to positionthem in spaced relation;

. one of said brace means being concave and adjacent the end of thecurved ends of said members to cradle the back and top of the head ofthe injured person in said curved ends of said members;

. means for securing the splint to the head and torso of an injuredperson to immobilize the head, neck, and vertebral column of the injuredperson; and

. said securing means including a chin strap for engaging

1. An extrication splint for retaining the head, neck, and vertebralcolumn of an injured person immobilized in the position in which theinjured person is found comprising: a. a pair of longitudinallyextending members each of which is curved at one end for engaging overthe back and top of the head of the injured person; b. said membersbeing formed of malleable material whereby the splint may be shaped tofit over the back and top of the head to retain the head, neck, andvertebral column of an injured person immobilized in the position inwhich the injured person in found; c. brace means secured to andextending between said members to position them in spaced relation; d.one of said brace means being concave and adjacent the end of the curvedends of said members to cradle the back and top of the head of theinjured person in said curved ends of said members; e. means forsecuring the splint to the head and torso of an injured person toimmobilize the head, neck, and vertebral column of the injured person;and f. said securing means including a chin strap for engaging the chinof the injured person, first strap means secured to said chin strap andadapted to engage each of said curved ends of said members at a positionbetween said concave brace means and the ends of said curved members forholding the top and back of the head of the injured person against saidconcave brace means and curved ends of said members, and second strapmeans engaging said longitudinally extending members and adapted toengage around the torso.